FAMILIES' REACTION

Some family members of the defendant and the victims appeared in the court and they were all in tears upon the verdict.

Cai's family labelled the court judgement "fair and justified," but they declined to give further comment.

The Hus, however, believed the death penalty was "too heavy."

"Is it too much to end his life for his one misstep?" asked Hu's elder sister, who could barely control her tears and trembling hands.

"My little brother has always been a nice guy. He is friendly to the people around him. Since he became a policeman, he worked so hard that he never spent one single Spring Festival with us," she said.

Hu's lawyer handed over a petition by villagers from Yuwu in Pingnan County, Wu's hometown, asking for leniency for Hu.

The lawyer also presented the court with an "agreement of understanding" drafted by the defendant and signed by the relatives of Wu, including her mother and brother.

Prosecutors did not believe that Cai had tried to grab the gun before his wife was shot and claimed the evidence Hu provided to the court was irrelevant.

"I beg the court and the whole society to give him another chance," said Hu's sister.